The Devil Wears Prada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Devil Wears Prada - Essay Example Andrea is the "second assistant", the "first assistant" underscores to her, and that virtually makes her the "slave of a slave". Everyone in the organization and in that milieu tells her that, and yet in the same breath intimates that it is a job that every girl would die for. As the start, Andrea sees the job as merely her entry point into the more real world of journalism, and she hopes the training she would receive under her Dragon Lady of a boss would give her the qualifications and credentials for more serious work. Gradually though, she is fascinated by the glitter and glamour of the world that she has entered and finds herself struggling not only to survive but to conquer, using the very tools of the trade, so to speak, necessary to get ahead. She is, in fact, obviously also fascinated by the persona and aura projected by her boss, Melinda, a sleek, soft-spoken lady who inspires and commands respect and fear because she wields such power and influence within the industry. It likewise soon becomes obvious that while before, Andrea's goal is merely to please Melinda and thus secure her job, she eventually begins to fit into the mold of her boss. And therein lies her struggle - apparent in the change that her boyfriend Nath and two other close friend s observe. She tries to keep the friends and values she has known and cherished but now seems to find them in conflict with the new world she moves in and which, if she were honest with herself as Nath had asked her to be, she actually reveled in. Her crucial moment of truth and decision comes when she realizes that beneath the brittle veneer of might and power that Melinda Priestly presents to the world is a very human person - caring about family, protective of her children, hurt by the loss of a husband through divorce. Does Melinda Priestly really enjoy the kind of leader she has become, or has she been forced to fit into this mold - forced to be tough, work-oriented, utilitarian, uncaring - because that is what is expected of her as editor of the most powerful and influential fashion magazine, because that is the only way she can get the job done. Andrea gets a glimpse of this when Melinda explains why she had to sacrifice one of her oldest and closest friends and a most loyal associate - to ensure that she is not replaced as editor. Quite simply she explains that no one can take her place because the magazine cannot hold on to its coveted spot as fashion leader without her at the helm. On the surface, the movie seems to provide a literal example of the absence of servant-leadership as defined in the philosophy and concepts advanced by Robert Greenleaf and by the idea espoused by various religious traditions. By its title alone, "The Devil Wears Prada", it is obvious that the movie means to depict the lead character in the image of the antithesis of the archetype of servant leadership, the Christian's Jesus Christ. The Christ spirit in the Christian Scriptures manifests the values of leadership and a relationship that involves patience, kindness, humility, respectfulness, selflessness,